Malibu replacement

[Bob]

High milez, but nice price: http://www.ebay.com/itm/Ford-C-Max-PLUG ... 1#viTabs_0

[kevm14]

I can then sell whatever I get when gas is $4.50 and buy a CTS-V Wagon for peanuts

Your plan is foolproof.

[kevm14]

I should stop and Barrys and test drive all 3 of these cars.

[kevm14]

http://www.autoblog.com/2008/06/02/in-t ... vy-hhr-ss/

A review of the auto, but no numbers.

I'm with you Cesar.

If this car were equipped with the manual it would run low 14's @ 100 mph in the quarter mile. It would get 30 mpg on the highway and has all the space of an SUV with sports car like handling.

What do you people want for 24k??? Sheesh!

Yeah pretty much.

[kevm14]

http://www.cobaltss.net/forums/lounge-4 ... nfo-72949/

The LNF is a great engine.

Also found this: https://archives.media.gm.com/us/powert ... t%20SS.pdf

[kevm14]

I'm guessing this GM Stage 1 upgrade kit does not apply to the HHR auto: http://www.crateenginedepot.com/1921267 ... 17741.aspx

EDIT: oh shit, maybe it works!

http://www.cheersandgears.com/topic/304 ... turbo-kit/

Be sure to check the Saab-like bold part.

WOW!

This kit has given my SS the bottom end the Automatic lacks. [Auto's are held to 235 HP in 1st and 2nd gear with 250 HP in 3rd and 4th].

The new set up is at 290 HP with 314 FT LBS of torque.

So far it has much more usable power and will see PSI reading up over 20 PSI any time you step on it. Some high alt areas may see as high as 27-28 PSI.

Torque steer is more but with a FWD your going to get that. Once you are used to it id no big deal and you learn to expect it.

MPG I have not checked but most are seeing the same or 1-2 more MPG because of the extra touque.

I was able to buy my kit at a discount through work and got my dealer to install it for 1.2 hours. I have $635 in the kit that has gained me 55 HP.

The biggest problems I have seen others with this kit have is lose intake tubes blowing off with the increase preessure. It is advised to tell the dealer to check the t bolt on the tubes while installing this.

I have yet to get times but I suspect a 14 flat or even a high 13 is possible with this combo. The 0-60 must now be in the 4 high second range. Mileage in the city has been 21-24 depending how cold it is and 28-30 highway.

When I get time I will get the performance numbers and post them.

Some Sky owners have dyno right on GM's numbers. The best part is the learn feature of the computer is left open. So if you add an exhaust or other performance adding part it will change the computer and adapt to it to max the added power. The stock computer really stops most add on parts from increasing performance.

It is amazing what to map senors, two wire conectors and a computer falsh can do.

Premium is now required but that is all I used anyway. It is optional on a stock HHR SS. Also note the 5 year 100,000 mile drivetain warrantry is still in effect for this combo. The Ecotech is strong enough to deal with this added power with not even coming close to it max ability. The auto transmission is controled by the flash to keep it safe too. at higher levels you may be on your own their.

Bang for the buck the SS and Stage kit is a winner.

It must still limit power in the lower gears, though, no?

His 0-60 estimate is probably way optimistic but the rest sounds legit, and awesome. Man now I want this even though it makes no sense to add this to Jamie's car. I guess I like the idea of her driving around something that's interesting to me, and also meets her needs.

I had never considered the HHR until I drove the SS. It on performance alone sold me. I hated the power loss with the Automatic but the wife dose not drive stick. This kit solved my problem.

[kevm14]

Ok now lets deal with real facts from someone who has really driven a HHR SS.

Styling: It is subjective and lets face it vs a Mini Van. The Styling is for people who would not get caught dead in a Caravan.

Interior: In the up scale trim and performance seat it is very nice for a vehicle you will be able to get out the door for nearly $20K if not less in January. It is as good or bad as most cars in this price range.

Drive: This thing is a blast to drive. The turbo is progressive and very managable. The torque steer is not perfect but as good as your going to find in as FWD. Handeling is very tossable but the ride is not brutal. The Brakes were very good but they were not the Brembo option. The Brembo's should only improve perfromance.

Usefullness: in a day and age where many cars can't haul much due to size this think can haul a 9 foot ladder and still do 155 MPH. Nuf said.

SS factor from the view point of a past owner of some BBC SS Chevelles and El Camino's. This thing is a SS.
The reality is this thing is as fast or faster than a stock 1968-69 325 HP 396 and can out handel by a large margin. This was not just some sticker and badge option here. It is night and day from the standard HHR.

Chevy turned this standard HHR into a real performer with very little cost. They did what was needed to make it really perform and it will share the parts with the Cobalt.

The SS does not have to have 92 octaine. They recomend it but it is not required. It will run on regular gas but will be down about 20 HP.

[Bob]

That upgrade kit sounds very interesting. I like the turbo economics of gaining 55 HP for $600. It sounds like it will boost the performance back up to where it would run close to the manual.

[kevm14]

$526 from Jegs on eBay: http://www.ebay.com/itm/Chevrolet-Perfo ... 5d49c06446

Part of the kit is a new PCM flash, which probably costs something at the dealer. Can't be more than an hour labor. Probably less. Would have been kind of cool if the kit included a "flash voucher" good at any dealer (prepaid, built into the price of the kit). But labor rates vary across the country, so...

And the fact that it maintained the 5/100 warranty makes me feel good. Most report a 1-2 mpg increase also.

[Bob]

One person reported 13.9 @ 103 with the turbo kit. Stuff like this makes me think of the Elise more and more like a Miata. Great chassis, but not really faster in a straight line than a lot of normal cars.